BALL Engineer Hydrocarbon Magnate GMT Watch Review
Wednesday - 15 February 2012
Magnate GMT is a timepiece, which combines all the traditional values of BALL Watch Company. The watch is designed with today’s wearer in mind – finely balancing the sporty with elegant.
The Engineer Hydrocarbon series is known for its innovative technological sophistication and this version of the Magnate is no different. The case, which combines polished and satin-finished steel lends the watch a more dynamic character. The large clear dial is only interrupted by the magnification of the date window. Whilst most manufacturers opt for the yellowish luminescent coating on their diving watches, the GMT 24-hour bezel emits a classy bluish colour with a coloured detail on the indexes. 28 micro tritium gas tubes glow on hour, minute, second hands and dial ensuring that the wearer can read the dial in total darkness. The brand features these Self-Powered Micro Gas Lights (3H) in all its models.
The entire look and feel of the watch reflects Webb C. Ball’s (founder of the brand, 1891) dedication, to create the pieces of legibility, quality and precision he became famous for.
The Magnate has everything you would expect of a truly superb timepiece. It houses the Automatic caliber ETA 2893-2, COSC certified movement with approximately 42-hour power reserve when fully wound. Patented crown protection system. A highly finished, pyramid guilloche-decorated dial, which is enhanced by a polished steel ring, housed in a 40mm case and showed off under anti-reflective sapphire crystal. The case-back holds an engraving of a submarine which hammers home the diving theme of the Hydrocarbon line. As customary for most diving watches, it is a great deal more resilient than it’s potential wearer: water resistant to 100m, shock resistant to 7,5000Gs…
Available with a black or white dial and a steel bracelet that adjusts to fit the wrist perfectly. The Magnate comes with an improved triple folding clasp and extension, patented by BALL Watch Company and entirely manufactured in Switzerland.
The good news is that it is set to be a collector's item - the bad news is that the Magnate was discontinued not long after its introduction, but with patience and determination it is possible to find one.
For those unable or unwilling to search for one, Ball has many other very fine timepieces on offer. Maybe the Engineer Master II Diver Worldtime is the one that will float your boat, or the Fireman Storm Chaser will be the one that gets you carried away (sorry for the puns).
